Improved school-desk



@hitch tat @anni I @frn HAMILTON S. McRAE, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA.`

Letters .Patent No. 72,662, dated .December 24', 1367.

turnover SCHOOL-DESK.

TO ALL WHOM IT 'MAY CONOERN:

Beit known that I, HAMILTON S. McRAErof- Mncie, in the State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement on School-Desks, and Seats therefor; and I d o hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and marks thereon, which said drawings forrn part ofthis specification, and, bythe several figures thereof` show a school-desk and seat constructed under my invention, of which- Figure 1 is a topview of the desk and seat.

Figure 2, a side view of the same.

Figure 3, a vertical sectional view of the desk; and

' Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, views in detail of the legs of the chair or seat. A

In each of these figures, where like parts are shown, like marks and letters are usedto indicate the parts. M My invention has for its objects providing the desks with a convenient and easily-operated book-holder, and Rwofgiving facilities, by peculiarities of construction of the legs of the desk and seat or chair, for the occupancy thereof.

In the top or lid a of the desk b, the book-holder'c'is affixed, the turning-point or pivot of it being near its front part', or that part nearest the'seat or chair, as indicated at d, iig. 3. This book-holder is thus located far from the front part of the desk, which obviates, to a considerable extent, the tendency of the scholar or occupant to become round-shouldered and near-sighted that is apt to exist when the book-holderis nearer the front of the desk. When this book-holder is folded down, as is shown by iig. 1, there is a smoothv surface on which to write, and when the holder is elevated, asv shown by figs. 2 and 3, there is a space between the edge of the holder and the lid, as shown at e, in fig. 3, for receiving and holding the ends of the book-cover.` To the under surface of the book-holder there is attached a ratchet,f, the centre-pin-having bearings .in the plates or sockets thereof, g. The thumb-piece L of the ratchet passes through the slot t' of the book-holder, so that the raising or lowering of the holder, and the operating of the ratchet, canreadily he effected by one hand only.v When the holder'is elevated, the lower'end of the ratchettit'sinto the teeth or notches in the backj of the desk, or a p'late attached thereto. When the holder is down, the lower end of the ratchet will be below the bottom ofthe desk, passingl through a slot therein', the two conditions4 of the ratchet being shown by iig. 3. The legs K of the desk can be made by` casting or otherwise, of one piece of metal for each end of the desk, and united by across-bar or piece, or not,`as may be deemed necessary to strengthen or support the desk. The'rear part of the leg is vertical, while the front part is quite curved, so that the teacher or pupilpartic'ularlly if a female, will have much easier access to the seat lthan when the front part of the leg is vertical, or of some other less accommodating form. By having the front part. of the leg thus curved, the support given to the desk by the extending ont of the lower part or foot l, is greater than it would be if the leg-were vertical.v Thelegs of the chair m and n can each be made of one piece, either-hy casting or' otherwise... The front leg'm, itiwill-be4 seen, inclines rapidly in a curved line from the foot to the upper part, where it is widened' out, as indicated at o, g. 4, for giving a good and broad bearingvfor the bottom' of the chair. A notch, p, in the leg, allows of the fitting in of -the broad part q of the head of theleg 1t, s'o that the two legs at this point are quite rmly united to each other. This curving of the leg m of the chair or seat/like the curving of the frontpart of the leg of thedesk, i

' facilitates access to the desk and seat, while it also gives a firm and steady bearing and support to the'chair.v

What I claim as my invention, anddesre to secure by Letters Patent, is -The book-holder, located inthe back part of the lid of the desk. constructed, arranged, and operated, as herein recited. This specification signed this 26th day of October, 1867. HAMILTON S. McRAE.

Witnesses:

H. HANKENY, J. J. HLLis. 

